Running shoe



F. C. TREAT RUNNING SHOE Oct. 23, 1951 Filed Aug. 16, 1947 Patented Oct. 23, 1951 RUNNING SHOE Floyd C. Treat, Barrington, Ill., assignor to The Athletic Shoe Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 16, 19457, Serial No. 768,969

2 Claims.

l My invention relates to running shoes especially adapted for an outdoor track, and is also applicable to other games and sports where running speed and agility are of prime consideration, as in certain positions in football. My invention is particularly concerned with a cleated or spiked shoe having certain improvements in regard to the number and position of the cleats or spikes of such shoes.

I am' especially concerned, in this invention, with the shoe requirements for sprinting, whether it be on a cinder track or playing eld. In such activity a runner, as he moves over the ground, customarily supports his weight almost entirely on his toes, propelling his body by pulling himself forwardly at each pace or step. Iv

have made a close study of this body action over a period of many years, as a result of which I have reached the conclusion that it has been customary, in previously known shoes, to provide an excessive number of spikes and to position them incorrectly and not according to applicable scientific principles. After giving long study to this problem, I have evolved an arrangement which (l) reduces the weight of the shoe, (2') adds to its flexibility, (3) provides improved traction at precisely the required points relative to the foot, and (4) provides the necessary support to the bones of the foot most involved in running.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a shoe with four cleats, each positioned where it will do the most good rather than placed haphazardly or for reasons of symmetry, as in the shoes previously known, which commonly employed six cleats. By eliminating surplus cleats, I achieve greater flexibility, better traction, reduction of weight and other advantages.

Objects of my invention, therefore, are to provide a shoe which will have the important advantages and avoid the prior art disadvantages outlined above.y It should be understood that, although I use a track shoe as a vpreferred illustration of my invention, this should be considered merely as an example and not as limiting, and the word cleat as used herein should be interpreted as a general term indicating any suitable ground engaging element.

Referring now to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the sole of ashoe embodying my invention, certain bones of the foot being dotted in, as shown in an actual X-ray photograph, to show the relation of the cleats to the bones, and

should be noted that the tap I4 terminates, as

at I6, on a line Well in advance of the arch or instep of the foot and immediately behind the ball of the foot, as seen best in Figure 2; also,

that the toe portion I8 of the shoe is preferably square, although it may be rrounded if desired.

At any rate, it is broad enough to comfortably accommodate the toes.

Coming now to the cleats (which, in the track shoesillustrated, are in the form of metal spikes),

I provide four for each shoe andv position them as follows: A

Cleat 2U is positioned substantially under the first joint or distal bone of the iirst phalange of the great toe, approximately midway of its length. Cleat 22 is placed approximately under the second and third toes of phalanges, and approximately on a line with cleat 20 transversely of the axis of the foot. It should be understood that the exact position of cleat 22 is not critical, its purpose being primarily to provide a balance for the foot against cleat 20. The position of the latter, however, has been selected in order to take full tractive advantage of the superior strength of the great toe and bones connected therewith.

Cleats 24 and 25 are positioned substantially under the ball of the foot. Thus, cleat 24 is approximately under the second pivot of the great toe, i. e., at the joint between the proximal and metatarsal bones, again to take maximum advantage of the great driving power of these powerful bones of the foot, and is roughly rearward of cleat 20 relative to the axis of the foot. Cleat 25 is placed approximately under the corresponding pivot of the third phalange, being spaced from cleat 24 on a line transverse of the axis of the foot. Thus, these two cleats, positioned under the flexing portion of the ball of the foot and widely spaced thereunder, provide along with the cleats 20 and 22 maximum traction where the foot of a sprinter meets the ground.

It should be noted that by cutting off the tap of my shoe immediately behind the ball of the foot I provide all the support needed for the cleats and, at the same time, reduce weight and add greatly to the flexibility of the shoe. The

comparison with a standard or orthodox track 10 shoe. It Will be seen that six cleats are come monly provided; and in order to accommodate them, a tap is used which extends well behind the ball of the foot and across the instep; great-m ly reducing the flexibility ofthe shoe. commodate the two forward cleats, the shoe is pointed at the toe and the positionofitheebones;

especially the bent distal and proximal bonesof the great toe, clearly show the crampir'igeffect`- of this construction. None of the cleats is posi- 20 tioned .Where itl will'achieve maximum tractive effect; ancltheexcessive number' of'cleats and" sizef of :the tapv :add an .undue b'urdenl` effi-weight tffbe .-'carriedi by therunnerV and .reduce flexibility'- andfrestrict .the' movement of his foot.v Further; 25

each unnecessary"v ground penetrative I elementy reduces-11his-speedbyr adding useless worlzA to" every2step.'v

I. am familiar: with: ShapiroI Patentg No:A

$095,766; issued'October 12,1193?, and Walther 30 Patent No: 2,080,680,1issued5May 18,' 1937," butido not c considerI that they anticipate my 1 invention' here:v described.:andclaimed.

Various= modifications will.r doubtless suggest themselves to those skilledrln thefar-t; and 'hence 35 Igdoenotwish toberrestricted to the forms lshown and: uses mentioned;` t exceptato the Y' extent' in` drcateclfiin'the:` appended claims.'

I claim:

1. A running shoe having a sole and an upper, a sole tap terminating in a straight line positioned a substantial distance forward of the ball line, and four cleats extending through the sole tap and providing the sole traction means for the shoe, one of said cleats being positioned apnroximatelynnder thedistalrbonecof the great toe; ,another cleat for balancing said distal cleat being disposed approximately on a line with the latter transversely of the axis of the foot, and a pair of spaced cleats being disposed adjacent thevrear extremity of said tap and substantially under the basesjoints.. of the toes whereby, when saidf-shoeis` usedfr running or sprinting, all fourrofzsaid cleats will penetrate the ground throughout the major portion of their length.

2? Af combination as defined in claim 1, whereinuonefof'y said rearwardly disposed cleats is disposed substantially under the base joint under the great toe and the.other.of said rear. cleats is. disposed substantially under the. base joint1of the fourth toe.

FLOYD C. TREAT."

REFERENCES CITED' The...following..references. areof .record-.inthe. file 4of this patent:

UNITED STATESP-ATENTS@ Number Name'` DateI 1,181,683' Pierce Mayl 2',i 1916 2,080,680' Walther May'l8," 1937"" 2,095,766 Shapiro'v Oct-12, 19'3'1y FOREIGN .P.ATli.l\I."IS.

Number* Countryy Datei 304,871' Great-Britain* Jan 31; 192912 306;'788r Italy Apr:4 1, .193312 

